Martha Plimpton was born in New York, New York on November 16, 1970. Her given name at birth was Martha Carradine. 

Her father, the actor, Keith Carradine played Wild Bill Hickcock in DEADWOOD and Buffalo Bill Cody in WILD BILL. Her mother the actress, Shelley Plimpton was in ALICE'S RESAURANT in 1969. Martha Plimpton was conceived by her parents when they were performing the Broadway Production of HAIR in 1970.

John Carradine who acted in BURIED ALIVE in 1990 is Martha Plimpton's Grandfather. David Carradine who recently acted in LAST GOODBYE is her uncle.

Elizabeth Swados, the composer and a friend of Martha Plimpton's mother, enrolled Martha at the age of eight in a actor's workshop.

In 1981, at the age of 10, Martha Plimpton had a small part in the film ROLLOVER and made a series of Calvin Klein commercials.

Her first larger role was in THE RIVER RAT IN 1984. She met River Phoenix while they were filming.  Four year later they began dating for awhile but ended up breaking up.

In 1985, Steven Spielberg cast her in THE GOONIES.  Martha Plimpton said that when she war playing the title role in HEDDA GABLER on stage, someone in the audience yelled Gooooonies! from their seat. During the filming of the GOONIES, she made a bet with director Richard Donner that she would stop biting her nails.  Donner paid up his bet several years later while they were doing a commentary for the film.

In 1988, Martha Plimpton starred in the comedy STARS AND BARS and in RUNNING ON EMPTY.

Marth Plimpton became engaged to the actor, John Patrick Walker. He acted in Melrose Place in 1997.  However the union did not work out.

Her theatre debut was with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble in THE LIBERTINE in 1996. As a member of that ensemble she received a National Medal of Arts Award in 1988.

In 1997, Martha Plimpton had the starring role in EYE OF GOD.

Martha Plimpton donates her time to the 52nd Street Project which is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to working with the inner-city kids in the theatre.

Martha Plimpton has been received an Emmy nomination in 2002 for her role in LAW AND ORDER.  She received a nomination by the Independent Spirit Awards in 1988 for her role in SHY PEOPLE. She received three nominations for the Young Artist Awards, RUNNING ON EMPTY - 1989, THE MOSQUITO COAST - 1988 and THE GOONIES in 1986

Some of Martha Plimpton's credits include -

DANTE'S INFERNO - 2007
MARVELOUS - 2006
7TH HEAVEN - 2005
LAW & ORDER - 2002
THE SLEEPY TIME GAL - 2001
ER - 1999
200 CIGARETTES - 1999
PECKER - 1998
EYE OF GOD - 1997
BEAUTIFUL GIRLS - 1996
CHANTILLY LACE - 1993
PARENTHOOD - 1989
THE MOSQUITO COAST - 1986
THE RIVER RAT - 1984
ROLLOVER - 1981